Keeping Zaha is Roy’s big concern
ROY HODGSON praised Wilfried Zaha after his goalscoring performance in Crystal Palace’s 2-0 win against Burnley at Turf Moor and is bracing himself for the opening of another transfer window.
Zaha handed in a transfer request in the summer but Palace rejected offers from Arsenal and Everton to keep the 27-year-old at Selhurst Park.
Chairman Steve Parish has said he would allow Zaha to leave in January for the right club at the right price and the winger has been in impressive form.
After scoring a belated first goal of the season in last weekend’s defeat by Liverpool, Zaha netted the opener just before half-time.
Hodgson said: ‘He’s a good player isn’t he? He’s capable of causing problems to any defence anywhere in the world.
‘And, of course, the goal that he scored and one or two chances that he helped set up, that’s what we need from him. Good for Wilf, that’s two goals in two games and, if he can keep that up, it will help us enormously to climb the table.’
The Eagles boss continued: ‘We’ve never wanted to lose him. But, when you’re Crystal Palace, and I think Burnley would regard themselves in the same situation, when a player does exceptionally well and there’s lots of clubs after them and prepared to pay big money, it’s not always that easy to keep hold of them.
‘We can’t say to Wilf, “You’ve got to stay with us because we’ll be Champions League next year”.
‘I’m happy that it didn’t materialise, I think he’s done exceptionally well to get over that and accept it and make certain he’s once again doing his level best for this club.
‘Who knows, there might come a time in the future where we’re confronted with that situation again. But, until that day arrives, I’ll carry on working with him, being happy to be working with him and happy that we’ve got a player of his ability to help us win football matches.’
Southampton picked up a first home win in nine Premier League games with a dramatic 2-1 victory which leaves fellow-strugglers Watford languishing at the bottom.
Saints were in danger of replacing their relegation rivals at the foot of the division until Danny Ings scrambled a 78th-minute equaliser and James Ward-Prowse curled home a fine free-kick five minutes later.
Ismaila Sarr’s first top-flight goal looked to have set the Hornets on a course for three precious points before the late comeback eased mounting pressure on Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl.